Contaminated groundwater is likely flowing around, over and even under a $12.5-million containment wall the Alberta government built nearly two decades ago to keep toxic creosote beneath a former wood preserving plant west of Calgary’s downtown from oozing into the Bow River. While levels of naphthalene in the waterway have spiked in recent years and exceeded guidelines…

Calgary’s city council secretly approved the $36.9-million purchase of contaminated land — now being pitched as part of the site for a new downtown arena and stadium complex — despite expert reports that warned the extent of the pollution and potential cleanup costs needed further investigation.

Remediation guesstimates for the soil contaminated at the GSL site range from $200 to $300 million, compared to $36.9 million to buy the site.

There’s nothing polite to say about this purchase. I think it was bought with the idea that in the near future it could be used as a contribution for the proposed new Flames arena. That way, Council could say that no public funds were being used for a private sports organization.

Also, the word “secretly” is bothersome. Public business (buying the land) should be done in public!

The City of Calgary now officially owns the GSL land on the western outskirts of downtown leading to speculation on what it plans to do with its real estate holdings of more than 12 hectares in the area along Bow Trail.

A former government official says Alberta’s contaminated sites legislation was drafted over two decades ago with an eye to making Domtar Corp. clean up the mess at a former wood preserving plant in Calgary where experts have estimated close to two million litres of toxic creosote and pentachlorophenol leaked beneath the surface. But in the…

Just as Calgarians are divided on the merits and financing of a mega multi-sport complex proposed to replace the aging Saddledome and McMahon Stadium, so too is Calgary city council. After the owners of the Flames and Stampeders unveiled their long-awaited plans last week to construct an $890-million complex dubbed CalgaryNEXT, an exclusive poll for…

The Calgary Flames’ arena proposal for the west end is brilliant. It’s also a dream wrapped in a mystery shrouded in fog. At this stage, the Flames can answer virtually no questions about the biggest building and revitalization project ever proposed for Calgary. With the hockey rink, event centre, football stadium and fieldhouse all in one…

Calgarians narrowly support West Village sports complex but oppose financing scheme

Most Calgarians would like a new sports complex, and many even support the CalgaryNEXT proposal unveiled by the owners of the Flames and Stampeders this week, but there’s strong opposition to spending public money on the $890-million project, according to an exclusive poll for the Herald.

A Mainstreet Research survey shows 39 per cent support the proposal to replace the Scotiabank Saddledome and McMahon Stadium, while 34 per cent oppose the plan.

Many members of Calgary’s amateur sports community, especially those in need of facilities, are in favour of CalgaryNEXT’s vision of a multi-sport field house stadium. But there are also plenty of questions surrounding the proposal. The presentation revealed by Calgary Sports and Entertainment Group last week included a state of the art field house with…

“One of the oldest con games – the notion that spending public money on pro sports venues is a sound investment.”

The Flames are asking every Calgarian for an initial $200 contribution for a new arena.

Sugar coating the request is a promise they will designate a small portion of the arena for amateur sports, so the the Foothills recreation site will not be needed (get it, the money for the Foothills site could then be spent on the Flames’ site).

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.I SAY NO, but this is a controversial matter. So, let’s have a plebiscite. The public has a right to be heard.

No Councilor campaigned or was elected to commit us to such an enormous expense.